Sales Lead-Emerging Accounts, Staples Media Network

Staples is business to business. You're what binds us together. 

Our eCommerce team delivers customer-centric site experiences to position Staples as a digital selling platform of choice. Our team ensures that our mobile, desktop, and app platforms deliver the digital experience that our customers expect.  We do this through customer insights, analytics, and testing to build a strong innovation pipeline for the future and to bring products and solutions to market seamlessly. We utilize online merchandising and campaigns executed by both humans and automated tools to convert new and returning website visitors into customers. We work end-to-end with our sales, merchandising, finance, logistics and technology teams to provide a world-class, holistic digital experience, growing profitable results in a fun and rewarding work environment. We are inclusive, customer-obsessed, and are looking for well-rounded professionals with strong eCommerce business acumen to join our team. 

You will play a pivotal role in Staples' future by strengthening and growing partnerships for Staples Media Network. Staples has developed a successful retail media network, growing at an impressive rate year over year, with room for innovation to drive scale. As the Sales Lead – Emerging Accounts, you will be responsible for driving incremental revenue through scalable sales strategies across long-tail vendor accounts and agency-managed campaigns. You will lead the commercialization and adoption of self-service platforms, enabling smaller vendors and agencies to activate media campaigns efficiently while maintaining alignment with Staples' broader media and merchandising goals.

This role is pivotal in expanding Staples Media Network's reach and impact, particularly among emerging and niche brands and their agency partners. You will collaborate cross-functionally with merchandising, ad operations, media planning, and external tech partners to ensure seamless execution and performance.

What you'll be doing:

• Partner with endemic vendors & agency/third parties to secure investment in Staples Media Network
• Own the long-tail vendor and agency sales pipeline, from prospecting to onboarding and campaign activation.
• Develop go-to-market strategies tailored to long-tail vendors and agencies, emphasizing ease of use and ROI.
• Evangelize self-service platforms and tools, ensuring adoption and satisfaction across both direct and agency-led accounts
• Serve as the primary point of contact for tier 5 vendors, as well as media agencies.
• Conduct quarterly or ad hoc consultations to optimize campaign performance.
• Partner with merchandising counterparts to align media plans with product priorities
• Collaborate with tech partners to enhance self-service capabilities.
• Provide feedback on platform usability and feature enhancements based on vendor and agency needs.
• Work closely with internal teams to ensure campaign consistency and compliance.
• Participate in strategic planning sessions to evolve RMN offerings and vendor segmentation.

What you bring to the table:

• Strategic thinker with strong analytical and commercial acumen.
• Exceptional relationship-building and stakeholder management skills.
• Strong presentation and communication capabilities, including the ability to simplify complex data into actionable insights.
• Entrepreneurial mindset with a passion for growth, experimentation, and scaling emerging revenue streams.
• Adaptable and comfortable operating in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.
• Demonstrated leadership, collaboration, and influencing skills across diverse teams.
• Proven success in sales or account management within a digital or retail media environment.
• Experience managing or enabling self-service or programmatic ad platforms.
• Strong understanding of digital advertising metrics, attribution, and campaign optimization.
• Excellent project management and cross-functional collaboration skills.
• Demonstrated ability to meet or exceed revenue targets and performance KPIs.

What's needed- Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree (BA/BS) in Business, Finance, Economics, Marketing, or a related field or equivalent work experience.
• 7+ years of experience in digital media and/or retail media, with a strong product or operations background.
• 3+ years in a leadership, team lead, or client-facing management role.

What's needed- Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with retail media networks, ad tech platforms, or eCommerce ecosystems.
• Proficiency with Salesforce, Google Ads Manager, or comparable CRM/ad management tools.
• Familiarity with API integrations, self-serve tools, and digital media automation.
• Strong analytical background, with experience using data visualization tools like Tableau or Looker.
• Prior experience mentoring or leading small teams in a sales organization.

We Offer:

• Inclusive culture with associate-led Business Resource Groups
• 22 days of PTO and Holiday Schedule (7 observed paid holidays + 1 floating holiday)
• Online and Retail Discounts, Company Match 401(k), Physical and Mental Health Wellness programs, and more